If you have a physically demanding job, you're probably no stranger to wrist pain. A 2019 study found that 10% of people in physically demanding jobs and sports have short-term wrist pain.

Our wrists are critical for allowing us to use our hands freely. We rely on them for everything from texting or typing, picking up the kids, and driving a car. If your problem develops into chronic wrist pain it can start to have a big impact on your daily life.

Let's explore the common causes of wrist pain and how to get rid of wrist pain.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

If your work or hobbies involve making repetitive movements, you may develop repetitive strain injury (RSI). This injury affects the muscles, nerves, and tendons in your wrists.

This can cause chronic wrist pain and other problems, including:

• Cold hands
• Tremors and weakness
• Numbness
• Difficulty gripping
• Burning or shooting pains in the wrist and hands

Even relatively low-impact activities such as typing, cutting hair, assembly line work, and painting can cause RSI.

If your doctor diagnoses this issue, he or she may recommend physical therapy. This can help to reduce the pain and increase the strength of your wrist. They can also provide advice to help you reduce the risk of recurrence.

Injury or Impact

Our wrists are very vulnerable to injury. That's because our natural instinct is to stretch out our hands to steady ourselves if we lose our balance or to try to break our fall. That can lead to sprained and even fractured wrists.

Sprains can cause pain, swelling, bruising, and mean that you can't use your wrist for a time. If you've fractured your wrist, the pain is usually even more severe. You may be unable to grip things or notice a visible deformity in the wrist.

This is a time to seek immediate medical attention. A doctor will order an x-ray and you may need to wear a cast for a while.

But old injuries can also cause ongoing wrist pain. A pain specialist can help to find out why you're still in pain and suggest wrist pain treatment to help you overcome it.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

One of the most common long-term wrist pain causes is carpal tunnel syndrome. About 50 Americans in every 1,000 are affected.

The carpal tunnel is a passage in your wrist that the median nerve runs through. This nerve extends from the top of your arm into your hand. It's responsible for the movement of three of your fingers and your thumb.

When you have carpal tunnel syndrome the median nerve becomes compressed. This can be caused by repetitive movements, such as typing or knitting, but may also be caused by other health conditions. It causes burning, tingling, numbness, and weakness in the hands.

First, your doctor will want to rule out other causes of joint pain and numbness before making a diagnosis. Then your doctor may suggest exercises, adjustments to your work, or medication that can help to treat the symptoms.

If these types of wrist pain treatments are not effective, you may need surgery. This is a very common procedure with a high success rate. It creates more room in the tunnel for the median nerve, reducing the pressure and relieving the symptoms.

Ganglion Cysts

Ganglion cysts can develop on any joint in the body, but they're most common on the back of the wrist. They're swellings that are full of fluid. They are noticeable under the skin and can be very small or grow as large as a golf ball.

If they're not causing you any pain, they can be left untreated. Over time, they may resolve themselves. But if they're causing you pain, there are treatment options available.

One is an aspiration. This involves a doctor using a syringe to remove the contents of the cyst. This is usually painless and is quick and effective.

If this does not work, you may need surgery to remove the cyst. If pain continues after surgery, you may need physical therapy.

Arthritis

People with arthritis have reduced levels of cartilage in their wrists. As the wrist contains many small bones, the reduced level of cartilage causes wrist pain when the bones rub together.

There are several forms of arthritis that can cause chronic wrist pain. Osteoarthritis is the most common and occurs as people get older.

Autoimmune forms of arthritis are also causes of wrist pain. Rheumatoid arthritis may start in the wrist and usually attacks both wrists. Psoriatic arthritis can also affect the wrists.

If your doctor diagnoses arthritis, wrist pain treatment may include:

• Steroid injections into the wrist
• Exercises
• Prescription drugs
• Specific treatment for the type of arthritis you have
• Support, such as wrist braces

If the wrist pain is severe and makes everyday life difficult, you may be able to undergo surgery to improve the symptoms.

Gout

Gout is one of the common causes of joint pain but we usually associate it with the feet. It's unusual to just have gout in the wrists. It's caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints.

It is a form of arthritis and should be diagnosed by a doctor who specializes in this field. Medications, painkillers, and lifestyle changes can also help to reduce the symptoms. This could also minimize further flare-ups.

Let AZ Pain Doctors Find the Causes of Wrist Pain

There are many causes of wrist pain and it can make daily life a drag. To break free from chronic wrist pain, you need support from doctors who specialize in pain relief.

At AZ Pain Doctors we understand the impact wrist pain can have on your life. That's why we're dedicated to diagnosing the root cause to provide you with the most effective treatment possible. Our multidisciplinary approach gets the best results for our patients.

To schedule an appointment, call us at 602-795-8700 or reach out online today!

About 75% of the population will experience neck pain at some point in their lives. Meanwhile, 5% have developed a lasting disability as a result of their symptoms. If you're struggling with chronic neck pain, don't hesitate to seek help.

Low back and neck pain now rank third in total healthcare costs within the US annually. Neck pain also ranks fourth as a leading cause of disability worldwide.

Here are a few types of neck pain you might begin experiencing over time. If these issues sound familiar, you don't have to keep living with neck pain. Instead, recognize it's time to begin treatment.

Read on to learn more.

Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common disorders of the nervous system. In fact, almost half of the adult population has had at least one headache in the past year. About 1.7 to 4% of the world's adult population experiences headaches 15 or more days every month.

A headache could indicate you're experiencing different types of neck injuries, including muscle tension or spasms in the neck. You might feel a headache form against the upper neck or back of the head as a result of these neck injuries.

Most patients who develop a neck-related headache describe the pain as either aching or dull. You might also experience neck stiffness and tenderness.

In some cases, moving your neck can make the headache feel worse.

If you begin experiencing headaches, neck stiffness, and pain, visit a pain management specialist. They can help you by determining the root cause of your neck pain. Instead of treating a symptom, you can treat the underlying issue for a better outcome.

Muscle Spasm

Muscle spasms are spontaneous, sudden, and painful contractions of a muscle. A neck spasm can cause tightness and pain. You might also find it difficult to move your head in one or more directions.

Some patients wake up with a stiff neck, accompanied by pain, due to a muscle spasm.

You could develop a muscle spasm in the neck due to an injured muscle. Muscle spasms can also develop due to spinal disc or nerve problems. Even emotional stress can cause a muscle spasm to develop over time.

Muscle Pain

One of the most common types of neck pain is muscle pain. A tear, sprain, or strain can cause inflammation, leading to pain and discomfort.

Your healthy muscle tissue includes numerous muscle fibers. These fibers are bundled together to form a single muscle. Within each fiber are bundled myofibrils.

Myofibrils are bundles within bundles. They contain contractile proteins that are able to perform muscle contractions.

If a muscle is overextended, small tears will form in one or more layers of the connective tissue. As a result, the muscle can weaken, leading to muscle pain.

The more intense the muscle strain is, the more inflammation will occur. You could experience pain and swelling as a result. A more intense injury will lead to a longer recovery period.

Don't hesitate to seek treatment if you develop a strain or sprain. Instead, learn how to get rid of neck pain from a licensed professional.

Otherwise, sprained and strained neck muscles can develop into trigger points over time. These hard knots are tender to the touch. They can cause further muscle pain and soreness if you avoid treatment.

Beginning treatment right away can help ease your pain, improving your quality of life without further difficulties.

Bone Pain

Injury or disease to the soft tissue structure of the cervical spine often causes neck pain and related symptoms. In some cases, however, the bones in your neck can cause pain symptoms as well.

For example, you might experience pain and tenderness in the cervical vertebrae. Though it's more likely the pain is due to soft tissues, you might require medical attention right away. Otherwise, the issue might indicate a more severe problem.

Bone pain might also indicate a fracture or bone weakness. These issues can destabilize your cervical spinal column. As a result, you could put your spinal cord at risk without treatment.

Referred Pain

Referred pain occurs when you experience pain in one part of the body that affects another area. For example, you might experience shoulder pain during a heart attack. When experiencing neck pain, you might also experience referred pain in the:

• Heart
• Esophagus
• Other organ symptoms

If you begin experiencing pain symptoms, visit a physician right away. They can determine the underlying cause of your symptoms. They can also determine if your symptoms indicate a more serious condition.

Nerve Pain

Each vertebra is an exit point for the nerves branching off your spinal cord. If there's damage or inflammation near one of these exit points, it can irritate or pinch the nerve root. You'll experience pain that's:

• Pull or sharp
• Constant or fleeting
• Accompanied by burning sensations
• Pins and needles

The symptoms you experience might vary based on which nerve is involved. For example, you might also experience pain that shoots down your arm. Sometimes, nerve pain can also impact specific motions or get worse with movement.

Facet Joint Pain

Your facet joints are located in the vertebral column where two adjacent vertebrae meet. Arthritic degradation over time or an acute injury at these joints can cause neck pain. You might notice the pain is sharp, aching, or deep.

You might notice the pain is worse:

• In the morning
• When applying pressure to the joint
• When moving your neck
• After extended periods of inactivity

The pain might also radiate from the upper back or shoulder, causing discomfort throughout your entire body.

If you develop neck injuries or experience chronic neck pain, visit a specialist to begin treatment.

Seek Treatment for These Types of Neck Pain Today

If you begin experiencing these different types of neck pain, don't hesitate to visit a specialist. Understanding the root causes of your neck pain can help you begin the best course of treatment. Instead of trying to ease your symptoms, you can tackle the problem at the source.

Ease your pain to improve your quality of life. Stop living with neck pain today!

Schedule an appointment today to get started.